Weather
Parents back youth club breathalysers (From Herald Series)
When It Happens Panel Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
Parents back youth club breathalysers
8:49pm Friday 12th March 2010
Teenagers are getting drunk on the streets because County Hall suspended a popular Friday night youth club, critics claim.
Oxfordshire County Council is carrying out a review of safety at the Sweatbox, based at King Alfred Community and Sports College’s Springfield Drive campus, after it closed in December following concerns about underage drinking and high visitor numbers.
A scheduled reopening last month was postponed by the council, which said plans by manager Garry Kingett to breathalyse youngsters were against its youth policy.
The council also took issue with random bag searches, hired security and metal detectors.
At a stormy public meeting chaired by Louise Chapman, the council’s cabinet member for children, young people and families, at the school on Wednesday, about 100 staff, parents and youngsters expressed fears over the council’s decision.
During heated exchanges, Conservative Ms Chapman shouted at ward member Liberal Democrat Jenny Hannaby, telling her to sit down, claiming that she had “turned this into something political”.
At one point a member of the public accused her of being “confrontational”, a claim denied by Ms Chapman, who later told the audience “don’t underestimate me, I’m the best hope you’ve got”.
Michael Challenger, 16, from Appleford, said: “These health and safety issues are common sense.
“Since the club was postponed, I’ve seen 13-year-old children in Wantage absolutely trolleyed in the parks on a Friday night because they’ve got nowhere to go.
“I’ve been to youth centres across the county and this is the best one.”
One Sweatbox staff member said: “With this postponement the kids have lost all faith in us.
“Go down to the parks in Wantage this Friday and you will see youngsters getting drunk instead of being safe at the Sweatbox.”
A parent told Ms Chapman she would rather her teenage daughter had a breath test than got admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital drunk.
Mrs Hannaby said: “Garry Kingett has the community’s backing 100 per cent – the work he has done for this town’s children has been amazing.”
Insp John Turner, of Wantage police, said issues concerning Sweatbox had been “minimal”.
He said: “I think the ideas planned for the relaunch were very good.
“I’ve committed myself and my officers to the project and will do whatever I can to take it forward.”
Ms Chapman said the issue was a “top priority” and the review would be finished by the end of April.
She previously said a drop-in session would continue to run at the youth club on Fridays to give young people somewhere to go.
But one mother at the meeting claimed young people would not turn up as they wanted to go somewhere with music.
More Wantage/Grove stories
- Cyclists ride out in memory of Ali
- Two 'fantastic' GPs bid their farewells
- Taking the fight to rogue traders
- Burst pipe leaves homes without water
- Paedophile's horrific hoard of images shock police
- Tea party hats are height of fashion
- Homes plan sparks fears
- Family mourns 'vivacious' grandmother
- Voice your view on town's future
- Grove airfield homes proposals go on show
Your Say YourOxfordshire
flynn77, grove says...
9:22pm Sat 13 Mar 10
I was even under the impression that Jenny "Photo opportunity" Hannaby even had her own Herald photographer on standby.
ex-B.G.S (Priory), Ilmajoki, Finland says...
6:18am Sun 14 Mar 10
Inn0cence, Didcot says...
4:19pm Sun 14 Mar 10
At least Ms. Chapman fights for what she believes in, rather than sitting back and and being paid to do s**t all like some other politicians...
flynn77, grove says...
7:20pm Sun 14 Mar 10
Inn0cence wrote:Agreed, the words hatchet job spring to mind.
Go Louise!!!! Ms. Chapman is the best County Councillor we have. However this is written, I'm sure that as usual, she only had the young peoples best interests at heart. At least Ms. Chapman fights for what she believes in, rather than sitting back and and being paid to do s**t all like some other politicians...
Mrs Hannaby had previous form working a political agenda. Ms Chapman is applying county rules to an issue. Okay on face value this issue seems straightforward but these rules are in place to protect are children as much as anything. It's not like she's refused to review the situation, reviewing the situation is exactly what is going on. Making rash decisions that could have knock on effects in other areas would have Mrs Hannaby on her soap box again.
Victor's_friend, Wantage says...
11:52am Mon 15 Mar 10
For once, surprisingly, Jenny Hannaby did not use a political slant, but asked why the panel has a problem when so many people locally connected with Sweatbox had been working so hard and effortlessly to make this event happen, for the 11th hour to be pulled up by authority.Simple as that but Louise black as ever with anguish accused her of politicing. If your report is correct I did not know Louise was Conservative and now I feel she is appalling and should go. I think that she is a big bully we could do without. Yes, she is a have a go person, but so is a chavette. Common as muck with no decorum. So she is one with experience and not a kill joy - she is a mother of 4 kids - what else; single mum, all 4 kids with same father, good loving united balanced family unit. I wonder if she has personal problems she is putting over all others.
Lastly, only one of the panel had been to this centre, but described the issue as 'the place has become a victim of its own success' - we are concerned about the enormous numbers expected to attend the re-opening after a long closure. So not a kill joy - place reopens with all the bells and whistles wanted by its users and authority is concerned about its popularity.
If the issue is the breathalizers I thought it was that previously the police were not able to endorse them as it was something outside their authority. So has some jobsworth at OCC decided that well if the police are 'reluctant' we need to have a mass debate else are positions are on the line - guess local elections will follow the GE??
Inn0cence, Didcot says...
9:28pm Mon 15 Mar 10
On another note, you describe her as a 'chavette' several times. If you think Louise is 'chav' I would love to know where you live... on the moon I suppose. Wearing make-up and high heels does not make you a chav, its makes you a normal women. To be honest, when compared to the rest of the County Councils cabinet is the most down to earth and normal of them all, someone who can relate to real people with real problems. I'm not saying the others cant, but with the rest all over 50, living in posh houses with their nice, together families... well, thats not the real life alot of Oxfordshire's residents know.
If you want to attack the County Council's decision then by all means go ahead, their are YOUR council. But don't sink so low as to attack a person personally. If thats the best arguements you can give on this subject (and the bitchy-ness does override the few other arguements you made, shows the immaturity behind your opinions) then I'm pleased to inform you - you lost!
SooB, Grove says...
12:26am Tue 16 Mar 10
Inn0cence wrote:In your first paragraph you say that Ms Chapman "is a resident in this area, and has teenage daughters. If this 'Sweatbox' is so popular, I'm sure they will have used it".
Victor's_Friend - What is your point about Ms. Chapmans personal and family life? You bring it up to make a vague speculation about her having 'personal problems she is putting over all overs'... Do you have any idea what you are talking about!!! The only part of Ms. Chapman's personal life that is relevant at all to this discussion is the fact that she is a resident in this area, and has teenage daughters. If this 'Sweatbox' is so popular, I'm sure they will have used it. I'm sure she will have asked their views on this subject, and again, being something her daughters would use, its hardly in her best interests to keep it closed hey? Think before you speak.
On another note, you describe her as a 'chavette' several times. If you think Louise is 'chav' I would love to know where you live... on the moon I suppose. Wearing make-up and high heels does not make you a chav, its makes you a normal women. To be honest, when compared to the rest of the County Councils cabinet is the most down to earth and normal of them all, someone who can relate to real people with real problems. I'm not saying the others cant, but with the rest all over 50, living in posh houses with their nice, together families... well, thats not the real life alot of Oxfordshire's residents know.
If you want to attack the County Council's decision then by all means go ahead, their are YOUR council. But don't sink so low as to attack a person personally. If thats the best arguements you can give on this subject (and the bitchy-ness does override the few other arguements you made, shows the immaturity behind your opinions) then I'm pleased to inform you - you lost!
I don't know Ms Chapman, so can only go by the information on the Oxfordshire County Council website, which gives Ms Chapman's address as being in Witney - hardly what I'd call "this area". Also, it's highly unlikely that her daughters have ever been to Sweatbox, as it is such a long distance from their home.
I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but as I said, I got my information from the OCC website. Just thought you'd like to know!
Inn0cence, Didcot says...
10:08am Tue 16 Mar 10
Flox, witney says...
4:29pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Popular: The Sweatbox
IVA help and Advice | Stay with Prague Hotels | Visit Spain with Barcelona Hotels | 70% off Designer Glasses at Posh Eyes
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
SooB, Grove says...
1:59pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Is that a threat, or what? I'm shocked by this comment and the fact that parents' views are totally being overlooked. Surely we should be the ones who agree or disagree with this issue as it directly affects our children. I suggest this goes to a public vote, which will clearly show the OCC that they are in the wrong to close down Sweatbox over the use of breathalysers. In this day and age it's a sensible precaution, and none of my childrens' friends have any problem with it either. Am also dismayed that this is going to take until the end of April before the review is finished. I guess Ms Chapman will be taking time out over Easter, instead of working on this issue as the "top priority" that she keeps insisting it is. I am so angry about this, but have toned down my comments because I'd get banned if I wrote what I really wanted to say!!